Card activation - asked for security code on back (cvv)

Vanilla_Bean

I'm aware that I'm overly cautious about my credit card after fraud......But....

I recently had to activate a new card with TSB, I phoned, went through the auto card number verification then got through to someone who claimed it hadn't worked and wanted to know all my details again, everything that was on the card....including the security cvv number on the reverse. Also repeated everything I said out loud.

I've never been asked this before during activation, just security questions. Too much info to give away?

Is that normal? It got me thinking it's the perfect place to pick up info for fraud.

Or am I just getting slightly too paranoid!!! :eek:

NickX

They do often ask for the CVV code during the activation call - shouldn't be a problem.

clio

Yeah i was asked for mine think it was my Cap 1 or Virgin card when they did.

jamalfatty

Well the purpose of activating a card is to confirm it is in your possession, and the main purpose of the CV2 is to prove that you have the card so would make sense for them to ask it.

Vanilla_Bean

jamalfatty wrote: »

Well the purpose of activating a card is to confirm it is in your possession, and the main purpose of the CV2 is to prove that you have the card so would make sense for them to ask it.

I thought it was mostly to confirm it was in the right persons possession!

So thought activating the right card - giving the main number and personal security questions would be enough. Seems to be giving away more info than is necessary? I assume that is why they brought in the auto activation, well, that and a bit of time saving?

normanmark

Vanilla_Bean wrote: »

I thought it was mostly to confirm it was in the right persons possession!

So thought activating the right card - giving the main number and personal security questions would be enough. Seems to be giving away more info than is necessary? I assume that is why they brought in the auto activation, well, that and a bit of time saving?

Sometimes they require a little more security checks than what you can do on an automated service. I wouldn't worry at all.

HamiltonL

Vanilla_Bean wrote: »

Is that normal? It got me thinking it's the perfect place to pick up info for fraud.

We (Abbey) have also started doing this for the past six months. I can't comment on other banks' systems nor my own for obvious reasons. However when we type in the security code it's hidden so we can't see it. The only thing we can see is the Expiry Date when entered. Then it will tell us if the details match or not - if it fails we don't know if it's the CVV, or the Expiry Date that is wrong. So we are deliberately left in the dark as agents as to what they are (not that anyone I have ever known at work would ever think of taking those details anyway).